- CBT methods
- Trauma-focused care
- Motivational interviewing
About Heather
Heather Lykas is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with 15 years of clinical experience in Rhode Island. She works with adults on common concerns like stress, anxiety, depression, and anger, and with people managing relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, and substance use issues.
She uses a straightforward, person-focused way of working. Sessions emphasize practical skills and real-life steps. Heather draws on Client-Centered Therapy to listen and build on a person's strengths. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and practice different behaviors.
Her background includes extensive work with people who have experienced trauma and emotional or physical abuse. In those cases Heather integrates Trauma-Focused Therapy methods aimed at reducing overwhelming reactions and improving day-to-day coping. Motivational Interviewing is part of her approach when people want help making changes around habits or substance use.
In a typical session she helps people notice patterns, try small experiments, and practice new ways of reacting to anger and frustration. She encourages short, doable steps and checks progress together.
Heather has spent many years working with a variety of life stresses, from parenting strain to mood disorders and bipolar-related concerns. People can expect clear, practical tools and a focus on skills they can use outside the session.
If someone is considering working with her, they are asked to use the site’s matching flow to schedule a first appointment and to confirm current session options before booking.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building on what already works for a person. Online sessions using this approach tend to prioritize clear check-ins and collaborative goal-setting so the person feels understood and heard. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses short exercises to change patterns. In virtual sessions CBT often includes home practice and simple behavioral experiments to try between visits.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Heather will discuss goals and preferences with each person and adapt methods based on what seems most helpful. That collaborative decision making helps shape session focus, homework, and pacing so the plan fits daily life and short-term goals.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the current online options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare, or busy schedules. It also lets people try short check-ins or homework-focused visits without travel. Licensed professionals can use online sessions to teach breathing and grounding, coach through difficult conversations, and review CBT exercises in real time.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
Rhode Island, Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
Heather works with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, relationship and parenting challenges, grief, addictions, trauma and bipolar-related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is down-to-earth and client-centered. She focuses on practical skills and building on personal strengths.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 15 years of experience working with adults, children, and families in a variety of settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an MA and is a licensed mental health counselor (MA LMHC, RI LMHC) practicing in Rhode Island.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions structured and what formats are used?
Session formats are not specified in the provided biography. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled and how do I start?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, complete the site questionnaire and schedule a first session.